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Sections of Pacific Crest Trail Poached by Mountain Bikers; Could Problems Arise in National Parks?

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Mountain bikers have been poaching sections of the Pacific Crest Trail in California. USFS photo.

The Pacific Crest Trail ranges from Canada to Mexico, running through Washington, Oregon, and California along the way, traversing not one but seven units of the National Park System in the process.

On its way north and south portions of the trail touch or run through parts of Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National Park, Devils Postpile National Monument, Crater Lake National Park, Mount Rainier National Park, Lassen Volcanic National Park, and North Cascades National Park.

While mountain bikers are not supposed to use the Pacific Crest Trail, recently some have been poaching sections in California. While the poaching did not occur in any national park sections, some have concerns that a rule currently pending in the Interior Department could open more national park trails to mountain bikes and, in the process, lead to the following scenario.

In its February issue, the PCT Communicator, the magazine of the Pacific Crest Trail Association, reported on trail damage committed by mountain bikes near the Parks Creek Trailhead in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in California.

From Big Bear to the Tehachapi Mountains in southern California, to Donner Summit and the Sierra Buttes north of Lake Tahoe, to Castle Crags and beyond, mountain bikes on the trail are causing damage and creating a number of "PCT Places in Need."

According to the trail association, "under U.S. Government regulation, bikes are prohibited in the PCT. The rationale for the prohibition of bicycles is based on the "nature and purpose" of the PCT, as dictated by the intent of Congress with the National Trails System Act and subsequent regulations designed to protect the experience of the primary users. The Code of Federal Regulations (36 CRF 212) directs that "The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail as defined by the National Trails Systems Act, 82 Stat. 919, shall be administered primarily as a footpath and horseback riding trail."

"Unfortunately, however, U.S. regulations and regulators have not, thus far, been able to fully curb the illegal use of the PCT by mountain bikers," adds the article. "The resulting trail damage and user conflicts can't be taken lightly. To complicate matters, bikes are permitted on many trails that lead to the PCT, resulting in bikers reaching the PCT on such trails and then proceeding along the PCT to pick up another feeder trail. Given land management agency staffing and budget issues, policing and enforcement is sorely lacking."

The article goes on to point out the problems associated with mountain bikes on the Pacific Crest Trail: the trail was not engineered to handle mountain bike traffic, it can be easily and quickly ripped up by bikes riding in wet and muddy conditions, erosion problems can arise.

"I can't stress enough the importance of responsible trail users reporting illegal uses of the PCT," says Ian Nelson, the trail association's regional representative for northern California and southern Oregon. "It is crucial that we hear from concerned users so that we and our agency partners can strategize as to how to curb the illegal use."

Comments

Reading all the posts prior to mine, the PCT was established for hikers and equestrians. If mountainbike people and dirtbike people want to ride a trail, go through the process and channels and get one established. The existing PCT does see bike and off-road vehicle traffic, mostly dirtbikes that tear up the trail. Living near the trail I see them all the time. The BLM, forest service and PCT association do not have the manpower to patrol or police the usage, nor do they have enough volunteers to repair the damage done by illegal users. So buying a special permit to allow mountainbikers to ride it will not cover that deficit for manpower and repairs. It just does not exist. The mentality of mtnbike riders in some of these posts is childish, you're going to ride it anyway since you haven't been caught and are aware there is little to no enforcement. If I rode in your front yard against your wishes and clearly against the law without your permission I would get a citatioin by the local police, there are plenty of those around in cities. Get some sense.


How in the hell can we relegate illegal mountain biking in the national parks when we can't even curtail illegal wildlife poaching, or stop drug pushers from instilling meth labs and from growing marijuana. We need more crises intervention across the board to stop this illegal activity. Were ----ing the parks big time folks. Say, Ray and Random Walker...your my pack backing buddies in spirit. Love your mountain zest for life.

[This comment was edited to remove an offensive remark]


That was NOT a silly comment at all. The PCT is bone dry just about whenever it is snow free. With the exception of a week or two after snowmelt and perhaps on the late fall the trail is mostly bare, dry, and perfect for cycling. Lets not even BEGIN to pretend that horses do not damage the trail. I am not an equestrian, but I have seen much evidence of trails damaged by horses. Mountain bikes do not cause significant trail damage when ridden on dry trails. Should the PCT be open to mountain bikes (probabaly, maybe, no way) I don't really have a well thought out opinion right now. There are arguments either way. I just hate it when anti biker groups cite damage as the reason for keeping bikes off of the trail. Nonsense. Just say it. You feel it is YOUR trail and you want it to yourself. Fine..just stop making excuses and tell the truth.


Janet (7/30/09) In my opinion, the majority of the posts from the "mountainbike people" make a lot of sense and bring to light "your people's" ignorance. Your elitist statement of "go get your own trail" just makes me laugh. I would go on and on about how your post makes no "sense", but frankly you bore me.
I will suggest that you do some research and educate yourself before you attempt to engage in any intelligent banter on this topic. The PCT was created LONG before mountain bikes were invented. No one set out to create or build a trail that is exclusive to any specific groups. Unfortunatey, the manging agencies have since made a determination that some are allowed and some are not. I understand the idea of limiting specific areas to specific groups to preserve wild areas (wilderness, N. Parks). No one wants motorcycles and/or bikes on the John Muir Trail. However for non-wilderness designated areas, the idea of allowing only certain trail users to a specific trail is crazy. You obviously subscribe to this theory as confirmed by your silly comment of "go get your own trail". I find YOUR argument to be rather childish. Consider the scenerio where I AM able to go out and create a trail and put up signs which state "mountainbike people" only. Consider that my trail may be in an area that you find attractive and you wish to take a stroll on my trail, but now you are unable to do so legally because my trail has been built exclusively for my people! Finally, what difference does it make that you live near the trail? Once again, a clear indication of your "not in my back yard" mentality. I happen to live near the ocean, does that make the beach any more my property than say those of you that may live in Tehachapi, Wrightwood or Acton? Shame on you!


It's a federal law. The law states that there shall be no vehicles driven on PCT - period. Is that what this nation has become? A collective mass of idiots believing that they are entitled to whatever they feel is justified in their own minds? Well, as a Marine Vet, I see these types of recurring actions incessantly. From those that believe they are entitled to a handicap parking place because there aren't that many handicapped individuals to the mama and her small troupe of [disorderly children] infiltrating a public arena and flagrantly disobeying house rules. And, now, this continuance of unhealthy self-entitlement attitudes that are tearing at the very fabric of this nation and who we once were. So, what's next? What if the Hell's Angels want this trail because it affords them a shorter distance to a new watering hole, then we must relent and allow them to do so; because bike riding with the Angels is an important part of their lives, and they bridle at the absurd restrictions imposed on their activity? I know I'm exaggerating just a hair but it does bolster my point - we are a nation of soft, self-entitled, self-absorbed, little lambs that are always pouting because we're not allowed our hobbies no matter its consequences. Be real men and women such as those serving you overseas. I'm disgusted that not one response, I read, was in regards to protecting our vital land and its laws.

[This comment was lightly (and reluctantly) edited for language.]


A lot of trails where there are no bikes allowed get overgrown and then no one can use them.


Someone please point me to one case in which an equestrian was injured by a mountain biker.

Also please point me to one case in which a hiker was injured by a mountain biker.

Please also tell me if you know of any cases in which a hiker was injured by an equestrian, and vice versa.

There are tons of places to hike, bike, and ride horses all on the same trail. There simply must be hundreds of said cases of injury if these activities are so incompatible. Personally I can only think of hiker-caused hiking injuries (hikers killed/raped/injured by others on the trails). I can't recall any of the other incidents. So please educate me on this.


My problem with other users on the Pacific Crest Trail, is that for one, the federal government under the National Trails Act, created this trail for hiking and horseback riding. There are other trails that mountainbiking and other off-roading activities are legal on. Here's something to think about, you wouldn't ride a bike in a pool would you? A pool is for swimming, now why wouldn't you go there, why would you demand the right to be able to "share" that pool? Why do you not ride through your neighborhood across everyone's lawns, because it is not yours. The outdoor experience enjoyed by hikers and equestrians is much different than that of a mountain biker, dirtbiker, ATV rider and 4WD vehicle rider. Hikers and equestrian people enjoy nature, the peace and quiet, the scenic aspects of hiking a trail. Dirtbike riders don't want to stay on designated trails, they like to find new, better, more challenging places to ride. They do not stay on trails, the more whoops there are on a trail, or hills in the area, the more they like it. They also like riding up on banks along trails, more exciting than riding flat and straight. A mountain bike track looks just like a dirtbike track in the respect of its singular width -not the tread pattern. We have both on the trail in our area, where one track goes, another follows, whether its a bicycle or motorbike. Once a narrow tire track is made many more follow and then the trail starts getting wider. Address getting your own trails in appropriate places where it does not conflict with destroying the forest and disrupting wildlife. Multi-purpose or shared trails is absurd, you cannot achieve the same outdoor experience if a bike is zipping by, whether its motorized or non-motorized. Also absurd is the alternate day use, as I previously mentioned, also refer to the dirtbikers objective and mentality and the destruction to trails they cause.


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